What personalities traits are necessary for success and happiness in nursing?

Overland1, RN · May 30, 2012

Being yourself is a huge part of what makes a good nurse even better. If one is normally a nice person who is genuinely organized, skilled, compassionate, and polite, then as a nurse that person will likely be a better nurse.

Incidentally, I am a bit less organized in some ways at home, but I generally remain organized wherever I am, although I still occasionally "over-engineer" things.

movingforward12 · May 30, 2012

All of what has been said is great advice. I would also have to add that your co-workers are first and foremost your co-workers and so you should always maintain a professional relationship with them. If that relationship develops into a friendship, that is great and wonderful, but I have learned not to think of my co workers as friends automatically. Becareful what you say to others, if you dont want everyone to find out something then dont say it. And with all of that being said, becareful who you trust.

Also, everyone has diffrent weaknesses and strengths. Find out what those are for you. One person might be too agressive while another person might not speak up at all. We all have diffrent things we need to work on.

allnurses Guide · May 30, 2012

Serenity to accept (and recognize) the things you cannot change.

Courage to change the things you can.

Wisdom to know the difference.

Self forgiveness when all of the above goes out the window.

Resilience to get back up on that horse again when the next shift comes around.

Mental and emotional fortitude to process the difficult, unexpected or devastating things and still come back and be what the next patient and/or family needs. Or at a minimum to put it away until the end of your shift.

sequin121 · May 31, 2012

I agree with honesty, integrity, compassion and definitely a sense of humor. However, with everything happening in healthcare these days, nurses also need to understand the business side of healthcare and be good financial stewards. Nurses also need to be able to accept change and be change agents. And let's not forget that all important critical thinking piece. We often underestimate ourselves in the healthcare food chain. Nurses need to be dang smart too!

GHGoonette, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2012

Well, you need to have a pretty high level of determination and a will to succeed during your training and the early years after qualification, but once you've acquired the post-grad experience, I think there's a niche in nursing for just about any personality type, from the adrenaline junkie and the control freak to the almost-horizontally laid back flower child. Learning always requires that gritted-teeth persistance, regardless of the subject - unless you're a prodigy or an autistic savant!

ixchel · Jun 2, 2012

Serenity to accept (and recognize) the things you cannot change.
Courage to change the things you can.
Wisdom to know the difference.
Self forgiveness when all of the above goes out the window.
Resilience to get back up on that horse again when the next shift comes around.
Mental and emotional fortitude to process the difficult, unexpected or devastating things and still come back and be what the next patient and/or family needs. Or at a minimum to put it away until the end of your shift.

After the week I've had, this post here screams so, so loud to me.

joyeRN · Jun 2, 2012

Be tactfully assertive!